HP to supply power to national grid to meet Delhi demand

NEW DELHI: Himachal Pradesh Govt. will supply electricity to the National Grid during current summer season to meet the growing demand of electricity in national capital Delhi and other neighbouring states said Himachal Pradesh Energy Minister Vidya Stokes here Friday.
            



Stokes said that state will supply 450 million units electrify from April to august to the National  Grid and told that  energy production in the State will get further boost with
the commencement of summer season and the snow at higher peaks and mountains will melt at faster pace which will increase the water level in the  mountain river and it will provide further  impetus to the power generations of the State .

She said that state is providing the cheapest electricity to the domestic consumers in the country and added that state has not increased power tariffs from last three years. She told that state Govt. is providing the annual assistance to the state electricity board  for  providing the electricity subsidy and added that a sum of rupees 180 crore was provided by the State Govt. to the state electricity board  during current financial year.

She said that electricity subsidy bill is likely to be increased to 250 crore during next financial year 2007-2008.

Stokes told that Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board has shown net surplus revenue of rupees 8 crore during current financial year and added that it has achieved the distinction of a few  revenue surplus board among  the country .

Energy Minister added that the electricity demand has risen sharply with the massive industrializations in the State and State Govt. has chalked out an ambitious plan  to meet the growing energy demand in the state as well as northern  region. She told that an estimated 6000 megawatt additional energy will be generated in the state during the 11th  five year plan. She told that out of it around 975 megawatt will be harnessed in the state sector  while the 2800 megawatt would be generated in the central and joint sector and around
1700 megawatt electricity will be generated in the private sector in the eleventh five year plan in the state.

She stated that  State Govt. has received 322 crore under APDRP  scheme for accelerating the power reforms in the state and added that State Govt. has submitted the projects valuing around 450 crore under Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Vidyut Yojna for 12 districts of the state and told that Rural Electricity Corporations has sanctioned projects to the Chamba, Solan, Sirmour and Una districts of the state. She told that center has released the 7.70 crores rupees funds for Chamba district against the total project cost of Rs 25 crore rupees.
            
Vidya Stokes said that online payment facilities has been introduced for electricity consumers in the state capital Shimla and told that two I T  based projects have been started in the state for  implementing computerized billing, energy audit, network planning and management  and consumer relations managements. She said that a Call Centre and  Data center would be set up in the state capital Shimla for facilitating  the electricity consumers shortly.

She told that all the dead/ stopped /damaged metres and wooden /dilapidated poles would be replaced with the RC C  Poles  and steel tubular poles to ensure continuous quality power to the consumers in the State.